The University of New Mexico has a problem with retention, so the school’s president said the institution is encouraging incoming freshmen to pick majors.

The University of New Mexico has a problem with retention, so the school’s president said the institution is encouraging incoming freshmen to pick majors.

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Updated: 6:29 PM MST Nov 25, 2014

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WEBVTT U-N-M HAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH RETENTION. SO THE UNIVERSITY'S PRESIDENT SAYS, THE SCHOOL IS ENCOURAGING INCOMING FRESHMAN TO PICK A MAJOR; AND START WORKING ON IT FROM DAY ONE. ACTION 7 NEWS ANCHOR ROYALE DA ASKS STUDENTS WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT IT; AND WHETHER IT WILL HELP MORE NEW MEXICANS GRADUATE. UNM PRESIDENT ROBERT FRANK SAYS A FEW YEARS AGO... 1/4 OF FRESHMAN WERE DROPPING OUT. THE UNIVERSITY HAD TO FIX THAT. Frank: "We want to get you into a major quickly so you don't get lost in this big university." PRESIDENT FRANK SAYS U-N-M IS "ENCOURAGING" INCOMING FRESHMAN TO PICK A MAJOR BEFORE ENTERING A CLASSROOM. Royale Da/KOAT: "The president says this new change is designed to make sure more kids graduate." Frank: "So we've created a pathway that lays out the right classes, the right juncture and lays out the whole system for you." JOHN FLORES ISN'T SOLD ON THE CONCEPT. John Flores/SENIOR: "I think it's a little too pressuring because when I was a freshman, I chose an undeclared major because I didn't know what I wanted to do." UNM SAYS FRESHMAN WILL STILL TAKE A VARIETY OF LOW-LEVEL CLASSES WHILE BEING ADVISED ON THE COURSES THEY'LL NEED FOR THEIR DEGREE. FRANK BELIEVES THIS PATH WILL ALSO BE CHEAPER. Frank: "Everybody wants to take a little time but we have to be honest and say while you're here, you're spending money.... and we are clear, time is money." HUCK GREEN DECLARED HIS MAJOR RIGHT AWAY. Huck Green/JUNIOR: "You're going to graduate with less dept and you'll get done quicker." FRANK ARRIVED IN 2012; HIRED TO MAKE CHANGE AND IS PAID MORE FOR IDEAS THAT WORK. Frank: "If kids are retained I get a bonus for it, yes." ACCORDING TO UNM... FRESHMAN RETENTION RATES ARE UP FOUR PERCENT THE GOAL IS TO GET IT UP TO 15 PERCENT. ROYALE DA, KOAT, ACTION 7 NEWS. DECLARING A MAJOR AS A FRESHMAN ISN'T A REQUIREMENT. BUT FRANK ADMITS, THEY ARE "PUSHING" STUDENTS TO MAKE THAT

UNM encouraging freshmen to pick majors

The University of New Mexico has a problem with retention, so the school’s president said the institution is encouraging incoming freshmen to pick majors.